A Brisbane priest, an Australian Muslim cleric, a senior police officer and a judge will appear at convicted Australian drug courier Scott Rush’s final appeal against his death sentence to be heard in Indonesia in September. Fr Tim Harris, of Scott’s home parish Corinda-Graceville, told the Catholic Leader that he has been called to the hearing to appear before the judges who will be determining the 24-year-old’s future.
The priest said AFP Deputy Commissioner Mick Phelan, Australian Muslim cleric Suliman Sabdia and Judge John North, a former member of Rush’s legal team, would also present character testimonies on the Brisbane man’s behalf.
Fr Harris, who has supported Scott’s parents Lee and Christine Rush since their ordeal began, appealed for prayers from throughout the archdiocese “at this crucial time in Scott’s case”.
Scott Rush was arrested at Bali’s Denpasar Airport in April 2005 along with eight other Australians, now known as the Bali Nine, and charged with heroin smuggling.
He was found with 1.3kg of heroin strapped to his body.
He was initially sentenced to 20 years’ jail as a drug courier, as was Michael Czugaj, another former member of the Corinda-Graceville parish.
Scott appealed the sentence but instead received the death sentence and has been on death row at Kerobokan Prison ever since.
His Indonesian legal team has already lost two appeals seeking to reverse the death sentence and this will be the final appeal.
Fr Harris said the request for him to attend the appeal hearing in Indonesia had come from Scott’s Australian legal team based in the Northern Territory.
SIC: CTHAS